Shelsi construction



J. W. SINNOTT.

SHELF CONSTRUCTION:

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1919.

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is We a M%2q@e- .l. W. SINNOTT.

SHELF CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION. FILED MAY 21. 1919.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

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ms a emeggm JOSEPH V]. SINNOTT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SHELF CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed May 21, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Josnrrr 1V. Srnnorr, acitizen of the United States, and residing at Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Shelf Constructions, of which the following is a speci-'fioation, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to shelf constructions and particularly toapparatus of this class designed to be used in various manufacturinginstitutions and particularly 1n workshops and is used for the purposeof storing or separately classifying tools, workpieces or variousmanufactured parts or products, and the object of this invent on is toprovide an improved shelf construction of the class and for the purposespecified which is simple in construction and strong and durable; afurther object being to so construct the apparatus as to readilyfacilitate the adjustment of the various shelf members employed inconnection with the standard or framework construction; and a furtherobject of the invention being to so con. struct the apparatus includingthe shelf members thereof as to put the various parts of the apparatusunder compression or under tension whereby the shelf construction willalways maintain an upright or rigid position regardless of where theload or stress upon the shelves, or the shelf construction, as a wholeis located, thus preventing the tilting or upsetting of the apparatus;and with these and other objects in View the invention consists in anapparanis of the class and for the purpose specified, constructed andoperated as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters ineach of the views, and in which I Figure 1 is a front view of ashelfconstruction showing two parts or sections with a plurality ofshelf members connected therewith :2 a partial section on the line 2-2of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, and with parts oi the constructionbroken away;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919;

Serial no. 298,726.

ig. 5 a partial section on the line 5'5 of tion of one of a number ofbearer-bars which I I employ. I

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have shownat 10 a shelf constructioncomposed of two sections or parts 11 and 12, said sections or partsbeing formed by vertically arranged end standards 13 and 14 andintermediate vertically arranged standards 15. The standards 13 and 14are arranged in the corner portions whi e the standards 15 are arrangedcentrally of the front and back portion of the apparatus and in linewith the standards 13 and 14, and the standards 13 and 14 are connectedwith the standards 15 by longitudinally arranged bearer bars 16 aplurality of which are employed and which are spaced vertically on saidstandards, as is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4; the vertical standards13, 14 and 15 are also connected by forwardly and backwardly directedWall plates 17 as is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 of the drawing. I

The above construction completes the general. construction of theframework of the apparatus which, as set out, is divided into thevertical sections or parts 11 and 12', and in practice, the plurality ofshelf members 18 are adapted to be placed on the tops of the bearer bars16 between the separate standards 1315 and 1514, and the wall plates 17,said shelf members resting upon two of the bearer bars 16, one at thefront of the apparatus and the other at the back.

In practice, the standards 13, 14 and15 of the frame are preferablycomposed of sheet metal tubes 19 which, in the construction .shown aresquare or rectangular in form in cross section, and are made from stripsor sheets of material the sides of which are brought together and bentat right angles to one of the sides of the tubes 19 as shown at 20 toform flanges between whichthe front and rear edge portions of the wallplates 17 are secured by riveting, spot welding or otherwise, thisconstruction being clearly sh in F g.- 2 of the drawing. It i l'be notedthat this construction or operation connects the separate pairs ofstandards 13, 14 and 15 and forms therefrom forwardly and backwardlydirected side wall or partition members 21.

The opposite side faces of the tubes 19 are provided with a plurality ofequally spaced apertures 21-, the top portions of which are enlarged asshown at 23, and these apertures are so arranged on the tubes 19 as tobring the apertures of one of the pair of standards 13 in line withcorresponding apertures of the other pairs of standards 14 and 15 aswill be readily understood.

The bearer bars 16 are preferably composed of sheet metal bent into U orchannel-shaped form in cross section, and the upper or free sides ofwhich are bent to form outwardly and downwardly directed flanges 21 asshown in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawing, and formed centrally of the crossheads 25 of said bearer bars are longitudinal and downwardly directedbeads 26. The opposite end portions of the bearer bars 16, or theflanges 2 1 thereof are provided with a plurality of saw-cuts orrecesses 27, and the end portions of the beads 26 of said bearer barsare also provided with a plurality of saw-cuts or recesses :28 which arethe same in number as the recesses 27, and are in the same verticalalinement therewith as is illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 6 of thedrawing, and in connecting the bearer bars 16 with the tubes 19 or theapertures 22 therein, the end portions of the bearer bars are passedinto the tubes 19 through the apertures 22 and the flanges 24; passthrough the enlarged portions :23 of said apertures, in this operation,and the end portions of the bearer bars are then moved downwardly andthe bottom walls 29 of the apertures '22 pass into one of the recesses:28 in each end of the bearer bars, while the shoulder portions 30 ofthe side walls of the apertures pass into one of the recesses 27 in eachof the flanges Ql in the opposite ends of the bearer bars, and this aswill be apparent will lock the bearer bars 16 against displacement in oragainst movement in the tubes 19, the beads 26 and flanges 24 formingshoulders where they are cut out or recessed at 27 and 28-, and theseshoulders bear on the inner and outer side faces of the tubes 19.

The shelf members 18 are preferably composed of sheet metal and areapproximately rectangular in form. The corner portions of said shelfmembers are cut out as shown at 31 to receive the corner portions of thetubes 19, and said shelf members are also preferably reinforced at thecorner portions thereof by a plurality of corrugations 32. The front andback sides of the shelf members 18 are bent downwardly, upwardly andinwardly to form downwardly directed V-shaped flanges 33 having inwardlydirected top plates 34:, which are independent of and adapted to move onthe bottom of the shelf members 18 and are free to be sprung outwardlyby reason of their spring connection through the inner members 35 of theV- shaped flanges 33 as shown in Fig. 3 of th drawing. W hen the shelfmembers are in position or placed upon the tops of the bearer bars 16,the plates 3% rest upon the tops of said bars. It will he understoodthat the V-shaped flanges 33 extend longitudinally of the front and backportions of the shelf members between the tubes 19. The opposite sidewalls of the shelf members 18 are provided with downwardly directedflanges 36, the ends of which are bent upwardly upon said flanges asshown at 37 to strengthen the same and in connecting the shelf memberswith the framework of the apparatus. After said shelf members have beenmoved downwardly to rest upon the bearer bars 16, a plurality of stovebelts or similar devices 38 are passed through the flanges 36 andthrough the wall plates 17, this construction being clearly illustratedin F 5 of the drawing.

From the foregoing description my improved shelf construction will bereadily understood, or the method of assembling the same, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing and the following statement: Itwill be apparent that the standards 13, 1% and 15 made from the tubes 19will be separately formed by suitable dies or otherwise as will also thebearer bars 16, and shelf members 18, and the wall plates 17 will alsobe cut to the desired dimensions and the holes drilled therein throughwhich the stove bolts 38 are passed. With the required number of theseparts at hand, to build up a shelf construction. of the class specified,or two sections or parts thereof, as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, it being understood that the wall plates 17 have been welded orotherwise connected with the separate pairs of standards 13, 14; and 15,I connect said standards with a plurality of bearer bars 16 in themanner hereinbefore set out, said bars being spaced or locatedvertically on said standards and in the separate parts or sections insuch manner as to divide the separate parts or sections 11 and 12 intothe required number of shelf spaces 39. As illustrated in Fig. 1, thespaces may be all of the same size, or of different capacities, andafter all the bearer bars have been properly placed in position theshelf members 18 are placed upon the bearer bars. It will also be notedon a consideration of Fig. 4. of the drawing that the longitudinaldimensions of the shelf members are preferably slightly greater than thedistance between the separate pairs of standards 13-45 and 15- 14t,whereby the proper placement of the shelf members 18 in position requirethe aid of a hammer or mallet blow at one side portion thereof to placesaid shelves in position under tension, or compression, and this as willbe apparent also places the standards or pairs of standards undercompression where each of the shelf members are connected therewith. Inplacing the shelf members 18 in position the V-shaped flanges 33 in thefront and back edges thereof may also be forced downwardly over thebearer bars under the tension of the inner spring members 35 of saidflanges.

The above described operation of placing the shelf members in positiontends to move or force the standards, or pairs of standards 13, 14 and15 outwardly where said shelves are mounted in connection therewith, or

i where the bearer bars are connected with said standards, and this aswill be apparent will place the standards, or pairs of standards, undercompression at these points and regardless of where the load is placedon the shelf construction as a whole, or regardless of what compartmentor what part of each compartment the load is placed there will be nopossibility of the shelf construction tipping over, or falling down byreason of the location of the weight. It will also be apparent thatwhile I have shown a specific form of bearer bars and apertures as wellas a specific form of shelf members, my invention is not limited tothese or other details of construction herein shown and described, andchanges therein and modifications thereof may be made, within the scopeof the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of myinvention Or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what -I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shelf construction of the class described comprising a plurality ofstandards arranged in pairs, bearer bars adapted to detachably connectthe separate pairs of standards, means in the opposite end portions ofsaid bearer bars and in said standards for locking said bearer bars inconnection therewith, and a plurality of shelf members adapted to bedetachably mounted on the tops of said bearer bars, said shelf membersbeing provided with downwardly directed spring flanges adapted tooperate in connection with said bearer bars.

2. A shelf construction of the class described comprising a plurality ofstandards arranged in pairs, bearer bars adapted to detacha'bly connectthe separate pairs of standards, means in the'opposite end portions ofsaid bearer bars and in said standardsfor locking said bearer barsinconnection therewith, a plurality of shelf members adapted to bedetachably mounted on the tops of said bearer bars, said shelf membersbeing provided with downwardly directed spring flanges adapted tooperate in connection with said bearer bars, and means for reinforcingthe corner portions of said shelf members.

3. A shelf construction of the class described comprising a plurality oftubular standards, said standards being connected in pairs by wall platemembers which are rigidly secured thereto, a plurality of bearer barsadapted to detachably connect the separate pairs of standards, means inthe opposite end portions of said bearer bars and in said standards forlocking said bearer bars in connec tion therewith, a plurality of shelfmembers adapted to be detachably mounted on the in pairs by wall platemembers which are rigidly secured thereto, a plurality of bearer barsadapted to detachably connect the separate pairs of standards,- means inthe opposite end portions of said bearerbars and in said standards forlocking saidbearer bar in connection therewith, a plurality of shelfmembers adaptedto be detachably mounted on the tops of said bearer bars,the corner portions of said shelf members being cut out to receive saidstandards, means for reinforcing the corner portions of said shelfmembers, said shelf members being provided with downwardly directedspring flanges adapted to operate in connection with. said bearer bars,and the opposite sides of said shelf members being provided withdownwardly directed flanges, and means for connecting said last namedflanges with the wall plate members of the separate pairs of standards.I

5. A shelf construction of the class described comprising a plurality ofrectangular and tubular standards, said standards being provided in oneside thereof with flanges, wall plate members adapted to be secured tothe flanges of said standards to join the same into separate pairs,said. standards being provided on opposite sides thereof with equallyspaced apertures provided with enlarged top portions, a plurality ofUshaped bearer bars provided at the top thereof with outwardly anddownwardly curved flanges and in the bottom thereof with longitudinalbeads, the flanges orbeads in the end portions of a d bearer bars beingprovided with a plurality of recesses into which the walls of theapertures in said standards are adapted to pass for securing said bearerbars in connection therewith.

6. A shelf construction of the class described comprising a plurality ofrectangular and tubular standards, said standards being provided in oneside thereof with flanges, wall plate members adapted to be secured tothe flanges of said standards to join the same into separate pairs, saidstandards being provided on opposite sides thereof with equally spacedapertures provided with enlarged top portions, a plurality of U- shapedbearer bars provided at the top thereof with outwardly and downwardlycurved flanges and in the bottom thereof with longitudinal beads, theflanges or beads in the end portions of said bearer bars being providedwith a plurality of recesses into which the walls of the apertures insaid standards are adapted to pass for securing said bearer bars inconnection therewith, and a plurality of shelf members adapted to bemounted on the tops of said bearer bars, said shelf members beingprovided in the front and back end portions thereof with downwardlydirected V-shaped flanges which are adapted to pass outwardly of thebearer bars in placing said shelves thereon.

7. A shelf construction of the class described comprisingaplurality ofrectangular and tubular standards, said standards being provided in oneside thereof with flanges, wall plate members adapted to be secured tothe flanges of said standards to join the same into separate pairs, saidstandards being provided on opposite sides thereof with equally spacedU-shaped bearer bars provided at the top thereof with outwardly anddownwardly curved flanges and in the bottom thereof with longitudinalbeads, the flanges or beads in the end portions of said bearer barsbeing provided with a plurality of recesses into which the walls of theaper tures in said standards are adapted to pass for securing saidbearer bars in connection therewith, a plurality of shelf membersadapted to be mounted on the tops of said bearer bars, said shelfmembers being provided in the front and back end portions thereof withdownwardly directed V-shaped flanges which are adapted to pass outwardlyof the bearer bars in placing said shelves thereon, the opposite sidesof said shelf members being provided with downwardly directed flanges,and means passed through said flanges and through the wall plate membersof the separate pairs of standards for securing said shelf members inposition.

8. A shelf construction of the class described comprising a plurality ofrectangular and tubular standards, said standards being provided in oneside thereof with flanges, wall plate members adapted to be secured tothe flanges of said standards to join the same into separate pairs, saidstandards being provided on opposite sides thereof with equally spacedapertures provided with enlarged top portions, a plurality of U-shapedbearer bars provided at the top thereof with outwardly and downwardlycurved flanges and in the bottom thereof with longitudinal beads, theflanges or beads in the end portions of said bearer bars being providedwith a plurality of recesses into which the walls of the apertures insaid standards are adapted to pass for securing said bearer bars inconnection therewith, a plurality of shelf members adapted to be mountedon the tops of said bearer bars, said shelf members being provided inthe front and back end portions thereof with downwardly directedV-shaped flanges which are adapted to pass outwardly of the bearer barsin placing said shelves thereon, the opposite sides of said shelfmembers being provided with downwardly directed flanges, means passedthrough said flanges and through the wall plate members of the separatepairs of standards for securing said shelf members in position, thecorner portions of said shelf members being cut out to receive saidtubular standards, and means for reinforcing the corner portions of saidshelf members.

9. A shelf construction of the class described, comprising a pluralityof tubular standards, said standards being connected in pairs by wallplate members which are rigidly secured thereto, said standards beingalso provided on opposite sides with a plurality of spaced apertures, aplurality of U- shaped bearer bars adapted to be detachably connectedwith the apertures in said standards to secure the separate pairs ofstandards together and the end portions of which are provided with aplurality of recesses into which the walls of said apertures are adaptedto pass to adjustably secure said bearer bars in connection with saidstandards, and a plurality of shelf members detachably mounted on thetops of said bearer bars and between said standards and the wall platemembers thereof, said shelf members being provided with spring deviceswhich operate in connection with said bearer bars.

10. A shelf construction of the class described comprising a pluralityof tubular standards connected in pairs, said standards being providedon opposite sides with a plurality of spaced apertures, a plurality ofapproximately U-shaped bearer bars adapted to be detachably connectedwith independent apertures in said standards to secure the separatepairs of standards together, the end portions of said bearer bars beingadapted to pass into said tubular stand rds through said ape tures andSaid end portions being provided With a pluralpresence of thesubscribing Witnesses this ity of recesses into which the Walls of said19th day of May 1919.

apertures are adapted to pass to adjustably JOSEPH W SINNOTT secure saidbearer bars in connection with said standards. Witnesses:

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as C. E. MULREAMY,

my invention I have signed my name in the H. E. THOMPSON.

